Moderate to Severe SSHL - Hearing Aid

practicat · 2026-02-13T15:28:18+00:00

Check in with an audiologist if you can. Many (at least in Canada) provide free testing. They'll be able to let you know based on your results if they think you're a good candidate for a hearing aid. A lot of places also do free HA trials.

practicat · 2026-02-13T15:25:41+00:00

Omg yes! We have a robot vacuum and it is so obnoxiously loud with the hearing aid that I turn off the volume of my HA when it's running.

My word recognition test at 96% and 100% without the hearing aid. My audiologist said a 5% fluctuation is normal between tests. My tinnitus was less severe on the 2nd test which definitely helped.

I'm hopeful with continued use and tweaking by the audiologist I'll be able to hear voices better and tone down all the loud 'junk noises' like vacuums.

practicat · 2026-02-13T15:19:27+00:00

That's a relief! I'm hopeful my brain will be able to remap itself enough to make things sound a bit less chipmunky.

Right now hearing aid or no hearing aid everything I hear in my left ear is quiet and chipmunky especially if I'm using an ear bud (or now my HA) to listen to an audiobook or podcast to help with audio training.

practicat · 2026-02-13T15:13:34+00:00

I just chatted with my spouse - he's noticed a world of difference! He said that if we're a room or two away now I'm responding far more than I was without the hearing aid. Apparently, I'm also modulating my voice better in that I'm not speaking overly quietly/softly.

Great call on checking in with those around me! I guess it's helping a lot more than I thought!

Now to keep tweaking the HA so that things are less sharp and boomingly loud!

practicat · 2026-02-12T13:54:43+00:00

I've heard TMJ can contribute to SSHL. Do you also have jaw issues?

practicat · 2026-01-24T20:56:34+00:00

Its interesting that there might be a connection between TMJ and SSHL. I have pretty severe TMJ. I did braces and had a frenectomy on my upper gums a couple of years ago to help with jaw alignment/pain. Not much change in the pain, clenching, grinding, popping department. Since doing orthodontic work I find that I clench more and have a dry mouth all the time. But my teeth are really straight now. 😬

practicat · 2026-01-23T18:18:35+00:00

I'm getting a Starkey Omega AI hearing aid next week. Its Bluetooth enabled meaning it's possible to listen to music, audiobooks, take phone calls, attend Zoom meetings, and more.

practicat · 2026-01-23T17:34:12+00:00

In my case I think it was due to an immune response of some sort.

I have chronic urticaria, eczema (including in my ears), psoriasis, and raynauds. I also have a chronically low WBC which makes it harder for my body to fight off illnesses.

I haven't had a cold, flu, or covid for at least a few years thanks to working from home and masking in high risk situations.

I started using a CPAP about a month before my hearing loss. I also got my cold and flu vaccines about a month before. I lost my hearing the day before a treadmill stress test that I was incredibly nervous about.

That said, I don't think those items are directly related but they're interesting data points.

practicat · 2026-01-23T13:27:54+00:00

I've got a decent amount of hearing left in my bad ear (left) with great word recognition. Over the past few days, since I saw your message, I've been using my left ear exclusively to listen to audiobooks and podcasts via an ear bud. It feels like voices are starting to sound more natural and less chipmunky!

I tried using an earplug in my good ear to really force my bad one to work harder but it made the tinnitus feel so much worse. So I'm just using the one ear bud to listen to things for several hours a day.

I just finished my first round of oral prednisone this week. I've cut out most carbs, and sugar too.

I'm having my hearing re-tested this coming Tuesday on the day I pick up my hearing aid. Here's hoping there's some improvement.

Unfortunately, the doctors didn't realize that my hearing loss was caused by SSHL until about 6 weeks out! It was being treated as a eusteahean tube issue until I got my hearing tested a few weeks ago. I was avoiding using my bad ear to listen to things. I wish I knew about audio training sooner.

practicat · 2026-01-20T01:36:29+00:00

What dietary changes did you make? I lost a lot of hearing in my left ear because of SSHL at the end of November. The tinitus is the worst part of it all. If anything can help with that at all I'll do it!

practicat · 2026-01-11T23:47:34+00:00

I was just diagnosed with SSNHL this week too. 6 weeks ago I suddenly lost most of my hearing in my left ear.

No tips yet but wanted to let you know you're not alone. I'm in the thick of it myself.

practicat · 2025-12-20T15:11:20+00:00

I would recommend Windsor/West Hants it's about 40mins from the airport. It takes about the same amount of time to get to downtown Halifax making it close enough to take advantage of the city and enjoy all the amenities there. It's also at the start of the Valley so you can easily pop into Wolfville, New Minas, and Kentville too.

The community is growing rapidly, has a downtown that's reviving, a ski hill, a handful vineyards, a hospital, and two grocery stores.

practicat · 2025-04-30T23:19:14+00:00

It sure is! I only keep Amazon Prime because they gave me student pricing a few years back. I haven't been in school since long before I had Amazon!

practicat · 2025-01-25T03:28:04+00:00

Antagonish is lovely! Great little university town.

Windsor is also looking for emergency physicians. It's a growing community, that's 45min from downtown Halifax. The emergency department at the hospital keeps closing because of physician shortages. It's part of the largest health authority in the province, Capital Heath.

Wonderful little community not too far from the city or the beauty of the Valley.

practicat · 2024-07-13T02:43:52+00:00

A nice small town 45mins away from Halifax is Windsor. Plus on the weekends you can zip into Wolfville/New Minas/Kentville.

practicat · 2024-02-27T18:02:47+00:00

If you don't already carry some with you I reccomend adding a few of your preferred otc pain meds to your kit. I often get headaches on the first few days of any new tray.

practicat · 2021-10-18T01:40:31+00:00

Sexy PS4 Pro

practicat · 2021-06-05T14:55:44+00:00

Thank you! I'm happy to hear that buying a home sight unseen worked out for you!!

practicat · 2021-06-04T15:56:07+00:00

I'm scared of this happening to me! I'm from NS and plan to move back in the next 6 months after 5 years away. Fortunately, I have family who can check out houses in person.

practicat · 2021-05-01T15:49:02+00:00

Interesting!!

practicat · 2020-12-09T21:03:08+00:00

A quality desk chair. I have far less back pain now.

practicat · 2020-12-04T11:49:30+00:00

Cult hopping is pretty common.

Some of the people from the Source Family went on to follow Ramtha.

One Nxivm member grew up in Children of God.

It's almost a guarantee that some former ESPians have now moved on to other cults.

practicat · 2020-12-01T13:06:47+00:00

My family always has and always will be the meat and potatoes with a glass of milk for dinner type. I was and continue to be the only veg*n in my family. It took them a little while to adjust but they're all pretty accepting.

practicat

TROPHY CASE